Campaigning ends, eyes now on Monday's polling

Loud speakers, drums fell silent in the Capital as the campaigning for the Assembly polls comes to an end.

Loud speakers and drums fell silent in the Capital as the clock struck 5 pm on Saturday marking an end to recriminations-filled campaigning for the December 1 Assembly elections.

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As deadline drew nearer, candidates raced against time to reach the maximum electorate possible, holding street corner meetings and going door-to-door to woo the voters.

Among several last minute public meetings was a rally addressed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a West Delhi area in support of his party nominee.

A low-key affair initially, campaigning picked up momentum towards the latter part with parties unleashing their top leaders and roping in cine actors and actresses, both current and of the yesteryears, duplicates of film stars, cricketers and even magicians to seek votes.

The help of tableaux was also taken with the hope that these would do the trick for them at the hustings.

Making desperate efforts to grab power in the polls to the 70-member Assembly, political parties indulged in mud-slinging against each other, claimed credit for good works and attributed wrongdoings to the opponents as they used various means and modes to woo the electorate.

BJP, which is making an all-out effort to regain power in the national capital after five years, took a lead in the campaign trail.